Hey Guys!! I Just read a super marvelous book and I can’t wait to gush about the book here. So I just finished reading the A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende. A family saga with richly defined characters deeply connected to their family, their culture, their country, their lives shaped by the political landscape.

My Rating – 4.5 stars Genre – Historical Fiction

It is a historical fiction which is based on the Spanish Civil War. This epic novel spanning decades and crossing continents follows two young people as they flee the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War in search of a place to call home in Chile and starting life fresh . Though this is the crux of the story as the 336 pages novel is heavily laden by the facts and richly created characters. The Book though is a historical fiction could be confused by magical realism  as it is a style  of fiction and literary genre that paints a realistic view of the modern world while also adding magical elements.

“Nothing can grow in the shade of secrets, she would say, love needs light and space to flourish.”

A Long Petal of the Sea is a historical fiction novel (with no elements of magical realism), a family saga spanning from 1936 to 1994. Based on the true events of the ship Winnipeg which carried over 2,000 Spanish refugees from France to Chile in 1939 organized by the poet Pablo Neruda, the story follows the lives of a young doctor Victor Dalmau and his wife Roser. While the story is fictional, the book provides a realistic account of the Spanish Civil War, the political situation in Chile during WWII and after. While I enjoyed learning about the historic events depicted in the novel, getting into the story took some time as I was not much acquainted with these events but 50 pages through I was into the world that Allende has created for the readers. The beauty of words make the story what it is and a gem of the book . The realistic Spanish Civil war and the political situation in Chile during WWII are incredible detailed merged in the fabulous characters that elaborated a mind-blowing story that has dark and light moments! 

“Pain is unavoidable, but suffering is optional.” 

This is a Spanish war story which leads to immigration, the connections between history and the political characters are structured in epic admiration! The story is told in the third person and it made this even more understandable, the merged topics like love, hope, desire, bravery are crafted in the most perfect way that Isabel could and brings us this masterpiece that has amazed us with the outstanding interesting story of the young doctor Victor and his wife Roser! The rich characters make it worth a read , their struggles and their hardships become ours as we turn the pages . Worth Reading !!

Have you read books by Isabel Allende ? This being by my first read by her. Do you read historical fiction ? Let’s Chat in the comments Section .